Tape rolls holding and display box

ABSTRACT

A selectively openable and closeable display box or carton for holding a plurality of rolls of tape for display. The carton has a front panel with a plurality of window openings therein and a back panel provided with a corresponding plurality of window openings. A fold line is provided along the longitudinal center portion of each of the front and back panels across the series of window openings. Side walls connect the opposite ends of the front and back panels along integral corner folds of the carton. The front and back panels are adapted to fold inwardly along their respective longitudinal fold lines, whereby they are moved toward each other and releaseably held with their fold lines adjacent one another so that rolls of tape can be captively held in the opposed window openings. The principal form of this application, however, is a modified one adapted primarily for display use only after merchandise shipping, wherein no end panels are used, and one of said windowed panels is disposed in a completely folded-upon-itself condition along the longitudinal center line so that the opposite windowed panel is fully extended to become a hypotenuse of a triangular shaped cross-section formed in cooperation with the previously generally opposed, non-windowed side panels, which subsequently for this form are disposed at right angles to one another. The longitudinal fold line of the windowed panel, which is completely folded upon itself, engages the corresponding fold line of the other windowed panel to help hold it in the hypotenuse extended form, and in such latter condition the rolls of tape displayed in the carton are readily removeable from or replaceable within the windowed openings of the fully extended hypotenuse forming windowed panel.

United States Patent [191 Okutani 3,739,917 June 19, 1973 TAPE ROLLS HOLDING AND DISPLAY BOX [75] Inventor: Seiichi Okutani, Osaka. Japan [73] Assignee: Nitto Electric IndustrialCm, Ltd.,

Shimohozumi, Ibaraki, Japan 22 Filed: June 25,1971

21 App1.No.: 156,719

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 874,652, Nov. 6, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] U.S. CI. 211/40, 211/178 R [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/11 [58] Field of Search 211/40, 41, 23, 135,

' 211/178 R; 206/45.l4, 45.18, DIG. 184; 229/14 C, 28 R [56] References Cited Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-E. F. Wenderoth, John E. Lind, John T. Miller et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A selectively openable and closeable display box or carton for holding a plurality of rolls of tape for display. The carton has a front panel with a plurality of window openings therein and a back panel provided with a corresponding plurality of window openings. A fold line is provided along the longitudinal center portion of each of the front and back panels across the series of window openings. Side walls connect the opposite ends of the front and back panels along integral corner folds of the carton. The front and back panels are adapted to fold inwardly along their respective longitudinal fold lines, whereby they are moved toward each other and releaseably held with their fold lines adjacent one another so that rolls of tape can be captively held in the opposed window openings.

The principal form of this application, however, is a modified one adapted primarily for display use only after merchandise shipping, wherein no end panels are used, and one of said windowed panels is disposed in a completely folded-upon-itself condition along the longitudinal center line so that the opposite windowed panel is fully extended to become a hypotenuse of a triangular shaped cross'section formed in cooperation with the previously generally opposed, non-windowed side panels, which subsequently for this form are disposed at right angles to one another. The longitudinal fold line of the windowed panel, which is completely folded upon itself, engages the corresponding fold line of the other windowed panel to help hold it in the hypotenuse extended form, and in such latter condition the rolls of tape displayed in the carton are readily removeable from or replaceable within the windowed openings of the fully extended hypotenuse forming windowed panel.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing; Figures Pmmsnm 3.739.917

mm 1 or 2 7 BY 5511011 OKUTANI wwwludflbozhwii ma/a ATFUPNCKY TAPE ROLLS HOLDING AND DISPLAY BOX This application is a divisional application of Ser. No. 874,652, filed Nov. 6, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,623,601.

This invention relates to a display box or carton for holding a plurality of tape rolls for display.

In the specification and claims, the term tape roll means various tapes such as pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, moisture-active tape (sometimes referred to as gum tape), solvent-active or non-adhesive tape or the like which is wound into a roll form. Typically, such tape is wound around a tubular core into a roll.

It has been a conventional practice that when such rolls are placed on the market for sale in retail stores, each roll is packed in a paper box or metal can. How ever, there are drawbacks that the packing operation is difficult or troublesome, handling is not easy, it is impossible to inspect the packed roll from outside. Further, such package is not attractive from the display point of view.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a selectively and readily openable and closeable carton for holding a plurality of tape rolls in such a manner that any desired tape roll(s) can be easily taken out or inserted in the carton by a very simple operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton of the type mentioned just above which can hold a plurality of tape rolls with an attractive display effect.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carton of the type mentioned above which can hold a plurality of tape rolls in such a manner that each roll is partly exposed out of the carton so that it is visible from outside for inspection and for effective display.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carton of the type mentioned above which is simple in the structure and easy to manufacture and assemble.

Further objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description.

These objects of this invention are accomplished according to the invention by providing a carton which comprises a front panel provided with a plurality of window openings arranged in series, a back panel provided with a plurality of window openings respectively corresponding with the openings in the front panel, a folding line provided on each of said panels along its lengthwise center and across the series of the window openings, a first side wall connecting the front panel and back panel at one side, a second sidewall connecting the front panel and back panel at the other side, each of the front panel and back panel being adapted to be folded inwardly along the folding line so that when the front panel and back panel are so folded inwardly and toward each other, the tape roll can be held in the adjacent window openings on the front and back panels.

Each opening is rectangular and has a length slightly longer than the tape roll diameter and has a width slightly larger than the width of the tape so that the tape roll can barely pass through the opening before the panel is folded. However, when the front (or back) panel is folded inwardly, as mentioned above, the tape roll cannot pass through the window openings. As will be understood, the front panel, back panel, first side wall and back side wall together form an open ended carton. When the carton is used for display or otherwise in an upright manner, it will be deemed to have an upper and lower end. Preferably, one of the side walls is provided at its lower end with an end flap to close the bottom opening of the carton after both panels have been folded. Similarly, one of the side walls may be provided at its upper end with another end flap to close the upper opening of the carton after both panels have been folded.

The invention will be explained in more detail by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a carton embodying the present invention before closing both open ends;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the state in which the rear panel is fully folded together to lie one half over the other half, and the front panel is not folded for another form of display position in which form the end panels are preferably omitted or removed;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the form of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one developed cutout of the carton blank prior to being assembled into a carton of the invention.

The material for forming a carton of this invention may be paper (sheet or board) or any other suitable material, such as synthetic resin sheet, for example polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, etc., provided it is self-supporting. Preferably, a single and integral sheet in a sheet adapted to be assembled into a carton is stamped out from a single sheet materiaLIn the embodiment shown in the drawings, a sheet as shown in FIG. 6 is stamped out. Indicated at l is a front panel, 2 is a back panel, 3 is a first side wall, and 4 is a second side wall. One of the side walls has a lower end flap at the lower end, and one of the side walls has an upper end flap at the upper end. In the embodiment shown, the first side wall 3 has a lower end flap 5, and the second side wall 4 has an upper end flap 6. The end flaps 5 and 6 are provided respectively with insertion lips 7 and 8 in the usual manner. Preferably, the upper end flap 6 is formed at one side with a suspender tab 9 having a hole 10. Along the longitudinal marginal of the back panel 2 there is provided a narrow side flap 11.

The front panel 1 is formed with a plurality of window openings 12 (there are five openings in the embodiment shown). Corresponding openings 13 are also formed in the back panel 2, as shown. Each opening is rectangular and has a length and width slightly larger, respectively, than the diameter and width of a tape roll to be held by the carton. Along the longitudinal center line and across the series of the openings there is formed a folding line 14 on the front panel 1. A similar folding line 15 is also formed on the back panel 2. As shown, the window openings on each panel are arranged in parallel and with a suitable space between adjacent openings. Theopenings 12 on the front panel 1 and the openings 13 on the back panel 2 are in symmetrical relationship with each other.

Indicated with the letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i are folding lines.

In assembling the above-mentioned sheet material into a carton of the invention, the various portions are folded inwardly along the folding lines a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and i, and then the surface of the side flap 11 is bonded to the back surface of the second side wall 4 along the longitudinal marginal by means of a paste, ad-

hesive or the like (FIG. 3). The carton thus assembled is now ready for use.

In packing tape rolls in the carton, each tape roll T is inserted into the carton through the window openings. Then, the front panel 1 and back panel 2 are folded inwardly along the respective folding lines so that the tape T engages the edges 16 and 17 of the openings 12 and 13, and cannot slip out from the openings. Then the upper end flap 6 covers the upper open end of the carton, and the lip 8 is inserted inside the upper end portion of the first side wall 3. Similarly, the lower open end of the carton is covered by the lower end flap and the lip 7 is inserted inside the lower end portion of the second side wall 4. In this way the carton assembly is fixed with the tape rolls removably held therein. It will be understood that each end flap 5 and 6 is of such a dimension that it will fit the open end of the carton in the state where the longitudinal middle portions of both panels 1 and 2 have been folded inwardly.

As will be understood, the first side wall 3 and the second side wall 4 are identical in dimension, and the front panel 1 and back panel 2 are identical in dimension. Preferably, the relationship of these walls and panels in respect of their width is such that when the panels 1 and 2 are folded inwardly, the folding edge 18 of the front panel 1 and the folding edge 19 of the back panel 2 will abut or contact with each other (FIGS. 2 and 3). In order to render the carton assembly more rigid, it is preferable to releasably connect the edges 18 and 19 at the lower end and/or upper end by a suitable fastener 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. However, the end flaps 5 and 6 also serve exceptionally well to releaseably maintain the inwardly folded edges 18 and 19 in good adjacent relationship. The suspender 9 can be used to hang the carton with the tapes held therein for display. In this case a hole 10 is utilized to hook the suspender 9 on a nail or the like. Since the tapes are partly exposed out of the window openings 12 and 13, they are visible from outside.

When it is desired to take out any tape roll, both end flaps 5 and 6 are pulled out and one or both panels 1 and 2 is pulled back (unfolded) to the original plane form to disengage the edges 16 and/or 17 from the tape. The tape is now free to be slipped out from the window openings. If desired, the taken-out tape roll may be replaced with a new one in this state of the carton. Then the unfolded panel (s) is again folded inwardly to retain the tape roll, and thereafter the end flaps are again returned to the ordinary closure position.

When desired, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it would be possible to fully fold the back panel 2 so that its one half would lie on the other half, while the front panel 1 is not folded. Preferably, the folded edge of the back panel 2 is fixed to the front panel 1 along the latters folding lines by means of a releasable fastener 20. The carton in this state may be placed horizontally for display, as shown with the second side wall 4 forming the bottom and the first side wall 3 forming the back support. In this state, the tape roll can be freely taken out or inserted in the window opening 12 without disassembly or opening and closing of the end flaps. Further, in this case the end flaps 5 and 6 are not necessary, and therefore may be removed, if desired.

Accordingly, improved shipping and display cartons have been evolved which achieve the various objectives and advantages set forth or made self-evident in the foregoing specification.

Reference should be made to the appended claims for a definition of the claimed invention.

I claim:

1. A selectively openable and closeable combination merchandising and display carton comprising a plurality of interconnected front, side and back panels, which carton is useable to display a plurality of predetermined sized tape rolls, wherein the front and back panels are normally opposed to one another as are each of a pair of side wall panels, one each interposed between said front and back panels; each of said front and back panels are provided with correspondingly disposed and sized spaced-apart rectangular window openings, respectively, only slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter and width of a given size tape roll to be carried therein to enable the rolls to barely pass therethrough during initial packaging thereof; each of said front and back panels having a folding line formed along its longitudinal center across the series of window openings; each of the front and back panels being folded inwardly along their respective longitudinal center fold lines and engaged with each other only along said fold lines such that the lengths of the window openings are effectively reduced with the attendant nearing of said opposed side wall panels and the tape rolls are captively held in said window openings of effectively reduced dimension.

2. A carton as defined in claim 1 further including fastening means fastening said longitudinal fold lines of the windowed panels in engagement.

3. A combination merchandising and display carton comprising a plurality of interconnected front, back support, back and bottom panels, which carton is useable to display a plurality of predetermined sized tape rolls, said front and back panels having correspondingly disposed and sized spaced apart rectangular window openings, respectively, only slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter and width of a given size tape roll to be displayed therein to enable the rolls to barely pass therethrough when the front and back panels are in the fully extended position, at least said back panel having a folding line along the longitudinal center thereof across the series of window openings, the bottom and back support panels being perpendicular to each other with said back panel having the portions on opposite sides of the fold line folded against each other, and the front panel extending as a hypotenuse of a triangular shaped cross-section between the bottom and back support panels and being engaged by the back panel along the fold line of the back panel, whereby rolls of tape displayed in said carton are supported against the bottom and back support panels and are readily removable from and replaceable within the window openings of the front and back panels and are-stabilized therein by the portions of the front and back panels between the window openings.

4. A carton as defined in claim 3 further including fastening means fastening said longitudinal fold lines of the windowed panels in engagement.

i t t t 

1. A selectively openable and closeable combination merchandising and display carton comprising a plurality of interconnected front, side and back panels, which carton is useable to display a plurality of predetermined sized tape rolls, wherein the front and back panels are normally opposed to one another as are each of a pair of side wall panels, one each interposed between said front and back panels; each of said front and back panels are provided with correspondingly disposed and sized spaced-apart rectangular window openings, respectively, only slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter and width of a given size tape roll to be carried therein to enable the rolls to barely pass therethrough during initial packaging thereof; each of said front and back panels having a folding line formed along its longitudinal center across the series of window openings; each of the front and back panels being folded inwardly along their respective longitudinal center fold lines and engaged with each other only along said fold lines such that the lengths of the window openings are effectively reduced with the attendant nearing of said opposed side wall panels and the tape rolls are captively held in said window openings of effectively reduced dimension.
 2. A carton as defined in claim 1 further including fastening means fastening said longitudinal fold lines of the windowed panels in engagement.
 3. A combination merchandising and display carton comprising a plurality of interconnected front, back support, back and bottom panels, which carton is useable to display a plurality of predetermined sized tape rolls, said front and back panels having correspondingly disposed and sized spaced apart rectangular window openings, respectively, only slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter and width of a given size tape roll to be displayed therein to enable the rolls to barely pass therethrough when the front and back panels are in the fully extended position, at least said back panel having a folding line along the longitudinal center thereof across the series of window openings, the bottom and back support panels being perpendicular to each other with said back panel having the portions on opposite sides of the fold line folded against each other, and the front panel extending as a hypotenuse of a triangular shaped cross-section between the bottom and back support panels and being engaged by the back panel along the fold line of the back panel, whereby rolls of tape displayed in said carton are supported against the bottom and back support panels and are readily removable from and replaceable within the window openings of the front and back panels and are stabilized therein by the portions of the front and back panels between the window openings.
 4. A carton as defined in claim 3 further including fastening means fastening said longitudinal fold lines of the windowed panels in engagement. 